Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. He supplied figures on the rate of inspection on 7 February. In 2002, there were 8,323 inspections and 25 prosecutions; in 2003, there were 7,168 inspections and 20 prosecutions; and, in 2004, there were 5,160 inspections and 14 prosecutions. The reason given for the lower number in 2004 was the EU Presidency. Last year, 5,699 inspections were carried out, 55% of the number carried out in 2002. What happened?

The Minister of State stated in April 2005 that 11 additional labour inspectors would be appointed bringing the total number to 31. Following the Gama fiasco, only four of the additional inspectors had been appointed. Have all 11 been appointed at this stage? How long more must we wait before sufficient inspectors are appointed? We thought the Government would be sufficiently embarrassed by the Gama incident to appoint a reasonable cohort of inspectors to ensure a similar incident would not happen. However, the case of Polish workers at the ESB plant in Moneypoint, County Clare, came to light recently. That came about because ESB management discovered it and brought it to the Minister of State's attention and not as a result of a departmental inspection.

Fines of between €1,500 and €10,000 are provided for in legislation to penalise unscrupulous employers. It is estimated the 70 workers at the Moneypoint plant were underpaid by €817 per week before overtime. What is the incentive for employers to comply? If I am fined between €1,500 and €10,000 following conviction, I will still make a huge profit. When will legislation be introduced to ensure the main contractor does not walk away Scot-free from a contract because he has subcontracted the work, given that he can say it was not his problem because he asked the subcontractor to comply?

How are foreign nationals who move to Ireland to work informed about their rights and rates of pay?

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